Simon Pulsifer
Encyclopedia
Simon Edward Pulsifer is a contributor to the English-language Wikipedia
whose prolific participation made him a subject of many human interest stories
in the media beginning in 2005.
. While studying for his bachelor's degree he said he spent over six hours a day on the Wikipedia website. As of March 2010, Pulsifer had made more than 108,000 edits and started almost 3,000 articles on Wikipedia.
He is an administrator.
Pulsifer's level of productivity at Wikipedia has resulted in him becoming a subject for human interest stories
in the local press. Together with Jimmy Wales
, Pulsifer made an appearance on the On Point
show, on August 2, 2006.
In December 2006, TIME
published its annual "Person of the Year
" issue. In light of the rapid gains in user-generated content
, TIME did not choose an actual person and instead named "You." The issue contained a feature about Pulsifer. On 6 February 2011, Wikimedia's Executive Director Sue Gardner
presented him with a token of appreciation from the Wikipedia community for being one the most prolific writers and editors.
, Ontario
, Canada
. He attended the French immersion
programme at Rockcliffe Park Public School
from kindergarten to grade 6. In June 2000, he graduated from Lisgar Collegiate Institute
, and went on to study history
at the University of Toronto
, Victoria College where he was a resident at Gate House.
Residing in Toronto (as of 2007), he lived in Ottawa for many years. He has worked for the political campaigns of politicians in both cities—Paul Dewar
(Ottawa Centre
) and Olivia Chow
(Trinity Spadina)—and was the computer systems manager for 2006 Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Munter
.
English Wikipedia
The English Wikipedia is the English-language edition of the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia. Founded on 15 January 2001 and reaching three million articles by August 2009, it was the first edition of Wikipedia and remains the largest, with almost three times as many articles as the next...
whose prolific participation made him a subject of many human interest stories
Human interest story
A human interest story is a feature story that discusses a person or people in an emotional way. It presents people and their problems, concerns, or achievements in a way that brings about interest or sympathy in the reader or viewer....
in the media beginning in 2005.
Wikipedia
Pulsifer became an active contributor of Wikipedia on December 10, 2001 under the username SimonP, just after hearing about the site from The New York Times MagazineThe New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
. While studying for his bachelor's degree he said he spent over six hours a day on the Wikipedia website. As of March 2010, Pulsifer had made more than 108,000 edits and started almost 3,000 articles on Wikipedia.
He is an administrator.
Pulsifer's level of productivity at Wikipedia has resulted in him becoming a subject for human interest stories
Human interest story
A human interest story is a feature story that discusses a person or people in an emotional way. It presents people and their problems, concerns, or achievements in a way that brings about interest or sympathy in the reader or viewer....
in the local press. Together with Jimmy Wales
Jimmy Wales
Jimmy Donal "Jimbo" Wales is an American Internet entrepreneur best known as a co-founder and promoter of the online non-profit encyclopedia Wikipedia and the Wikia company....
, Pulsifer made an appearance on the On Point
On Point
On Point is a two-hour call-in radio show hosted by Tom Ashbrook, a former The Boston Globe foreign editor and reporter, author and Internet entrepreneur. It is produced by WBUR in Boston and syndicated by National Public Radio...
show, on August 2, 2006.
In December 2006, TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
published its annual "Person of the Year
Person of the Year
Person of the Year is an annual issue of the United States newsmagazine Time that features and profiles a person, couple, group, idea, place, or machine that "for better or for worse, ...has done the most to influence the events of the year."- History :The tradition of selecting a Man of the Year...
" issue. In light of the rapid gains in user-generated content
User-generated content
User generated content covers a range of media content available in a range of modern communications technologies. It entered mainstream usage during 2005 having arisen in web publishing and new media content production circles...
, TIME did not choose an actual person and instead named "You." The issue contained a feature about Pulsifer. On 6 February 2011, Wikimedia's Executive Director Sue Gardner
Sue Gardner
Sue Gardner is the current Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation in San Francisco, and previous director of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's website and online news outlets.- Life and journalism career :...
presented him with a token of appreciation from the Wikipedia community for being one the most prolific writers and editors.
Personal
Pulsifer grew up in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He attended the French immersion
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
programme at Rockcliffe Park Public School
Rockcliffe Park Public School
Rockcliffe Park Public School is a public elementary school in the Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1922. Located in the centre of Ottawa's wealthiest neighbourhood, it has long educated the children of politicians and ambassadors...
from kindergarten to grade 6. In June 2000, he graduated from Lisgar Collegiate Institute
Lisgar Collegiate Institute
Lisgar Collegiate Institute is an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board secondary school in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Lisgar Collegiate Institute, one of the country's best regarded public schools, is located in downtown Ottawa by the Rideau Canal and is only a few blocks from Canada's Parliament Hill...
, and went on to study history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Victoria College where he was a resident at Gate House.
Residing in Toronto (as of 2007), he lived in Ottawa for many years. He has worked for the political campaigns of politicians in both cities—Paul Dewar
Paul Dewar
Paul W. Dewar is a Canadian politician currently serving as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Ottawa Centre.Dewar is a member of the New Democratic Party and was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2006 federal election...
(Ottawa Centre
Ottawa Centre
Ottawa Centre is an urban federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968...
) and Olivia Chow
Olivia Chow
Olivia Chow is a Canadian New Democratic Party Member of Parliament and former city councillor in Toronto. She won the Trinity—Spadina riding for the New Democratic Party on January 23, 2006, becoming a member of the Canadian House of Commons. Most recently, she was re-elected in her riding for...
(Trinity Spadina)—and was the computer systems manager for 2006 Ottawa mayoral candidate Alex Munter
Alex Munter
Alexander Mathias Munter is a former politician and journalist in Ottawa, Canada's capital city. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario....
.